Ground Zero should be site of service: poll

Nearly three-quarters of the respondents to a Crain's online poll oppose state and city plans to move this year's Sept. 11th memorial service off of Ground Zero to nearby Zuccotti Park, formerly called Liberty Plaza Park.

Seventy-two percent of the 578 respondents said that the services should be held at Ground Zero, as it has been since the attacks.

Barbara Pandolfo, who lost a daughter at the World Trade Center, declared that the mayor "has set himself up as judge and jury and isn't willing to bend on anything."

Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday that the ceremony needed to be moved to nearby Zuccotti Park because of the expanding construction at Ground Zero. Family members were outraged. A number of family groups said that if the mayor didnt change his mind they planned to boycott the Zuccotti Park ceremony and apply for a permit of their own that would allow them to hold a tribute at the original location. The families gave city officials a Tuesday deadline to respond. On Monday, Mr. Bloomberg said the decision was final.

"Building can certainly stop for one day," said Ms. Pandolfo. "It's taken them nearly six years to finally get started - one more day isn't going to put them behind schedule."

She added that the memorial should be held there as long as "it is still possible." The mayor said the ongoing construction has made it unsafe for large public gatherings. Just over a quarter of the respondents supported the shift to Zuccotti Park.

I realize how painful 9/11 has been for everyone and especially those who lost a loved one however, it is time to move on and get on with everyone's life, said Tom Hebel. It is important to remember the 9/11 victims, but nothing that anyone can do will change the events of that horrific day.

Most respondents who commented disagreed with the citys decision to move the service. "The insolence exhibited by Bloomberg and Spitzer regarding 9/11 is abhorrent and disgraceful, said Sept. 11th family member Jeanne Evans

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